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PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, July 7) - Two government ministers yesterday argued strongly to shift the focus of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country from a health issue to one threatening the development of Papua New Guinea.

Ministers Puka Temu and Lady Carol Kidu warned the exponential rise of HIV/AIDS from the first victim in 1981 to more than 8,000 currently indicates it was no longer a "simple situation" and needs to be brought under the Prime Minister’s direct oversight.

The two ministers said this while debating Management of Disasters 2003 tabled by Inter-Government Relations Minister Sir Peter Barter. The bills drew debate mechanisms for rapid response and funding for disaster-prone PNG.

They argued that PNG was aware of other common natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and tsunamis but HIV/AIDS had reached an epidemic state since the first case in 1981.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, July 7) - Tuvaluan workers stranded without pay in Nauru have turned to their own cash-strapped government for help.

Tuvalu’s Secretary For Foreign Affairs And Labor, Tine Leulu, says repatriated workers and those remaining on Nauru have asked the Government to pay their lost wages.

But Leulu says Tuvalu’s government has told workers who were hired by Nauru Phosphate Corporation (NPC) that it can’t afford to assist.

"This is becoming a national problem as well because Tuvaluan Nauru workers are coming to the Government to see if they can be paid and the government will claim it later from the NPC. Of course we have also our financial constraints."

Mr Leulu says the Government has already repatriated 200 Tuvaluans at a cost of about US$140,000, and a further 100 remain on the island.

He says there are no immediate plans to repatriate them, as the Government believes they will eventually be paid.

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, June 7) - Governor Juan N. Babauta yesterday endorsed to the Department of the Interior the adoption and implementation of a recently completed hazards assessment and volcanic early warning system report to help the Commonwealth deal with threats posed by volcanic eruptions.

Babauta provided Interior Secretary Gale Norton with a copy of the report, "Volcanic Eruptions in the CNMI: Hazards Assessment and Volcano Early Warning System for the Northern Mariana Islands," in hopes that DOI would help the CNMI implement a socioeconomic development plan for the Northern Islands.

"Nine of the 14 islands in the CNMI have potentially active volcanoes. One island volcano, Anatahan, is presently active and that its ongoing eruptions are a grim reminder that volcanic eruptions will always play a role in the future of the CNMI," said Babauta.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, July 7) - Three women and a man accused of practicing witchcraft that resulted in the death of a woman appeared before the Tabubil District Court yesterday.

The courtroom was packed with curious spectators when the four defendants appeared before Magistrate Patrick Monouluk to face charges of willful murder. Their case will be heard this morning.

Police prosecutors on Monday made an application to withdraw the charge because there was insufficient evidence to back up the allegations of witchcraft under the Criminal Code.

Monouluk granted the application because the case could not have been heard at the District Court level under the Criminal Code.

He granted an order for the both parties to proceed with the case under the Sorcery Act to properly prosecute the defendants.

The four defendants were charged again for willful murder under the Sorcery Act to allow the case to be heard yesterday.

HAGATNA, Guam (June 7) - On Monday, the Department of Education went before senators to make its case for a $168.4 million budget for fiscal 2005. At the same hearing, education officials said the agency is anticipating an $8.5 million shortfall for this fiscal year and asked the Legislature for a supplemental budget.

DOE Superintendent Juan Flores told senators that even though the department was asking for additional money, it also would find areas where cuts can be made.

The community has made it clear that education must be a top priority, and thus funded properly. However, attached to that funding, must be a strong measure of accountability. Where, specifically, will the supplemental budget and the additional money requested for fiscal 2005 be spent within the department? And, even more importantly, will the extra cash result in a higher quality of education, and thus improved student performance?

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, July 8) - Cheetah Oil and Gas (PNG) Ltd., a subsidiary of Canadian based-Cheetah Oil and Gas Ltd. will open its offices in Port Moresby on July 22.

The company has acquired five petroleum-prospecting licenses (PPLs) to explore for oil and gas in Papua New Guinea.

Three of these licenses are in the North Niugini basin and two in the Papuan basin. Its parent company reports to the New York Stock Exchange (NASDAQ).

COGPNG general manager Jack Sari told a media briefing at the opening of the PNG office "this is a rare opportunity to report on positive developments in respect of oil and gas exploration in PNG, more particularly, in recognition of a very new company entering PNG shores."

The company started its operation in the country last October as soon as the licenses were granted.

"I have been in the oil and petroleum exploration industry for the last 20 years, and this is very...

SUVA, Fiji (FijiSUN, July 8) - A large number of plants suspected to be marijuana were uprooted from a farm in Sigatoka in a raid by Fiji police yesterday.

Police spokesman Mesake Koroi yesterday confirmed that 1,582 plants were uprooted from a farm in Sigatoka.

"The West Drug Squad made a raid in Nabuyaniti Village in Sigatoka and discovered a total of 1,582 plants, which we believe to be marijuana," Koroi said. "The plants are between six and eight feet in height and will be sent to the Koronivia Research Station for testing."

Koroi said police were still trying to locate the owner of the farm.

"We are looking for Elevi Mataitini but until this moment we have not been able to find him," he said. "The team at the farm are still investigating the matter and are questioning the neighbors in order to find Mataitini."

HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, July 8) - Guam airport consultant Francisco Santos yesterday asserted his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent during prosecution questioning in the trial against former Governor Carl Gutierrez and two former cabinet members.

Santos is the second defense witness to be called to the stand in the case involving Gutierrez, his former chief of staff, Gil Shinohara, and former airport Executive Manager Gerald Yingling. The defendants are accused of conspiring to use government personnel and resources meant for Tutujan Park, or Triangle Park, in Agana Heights at Gutierrez’s Urunao ranch in Dededo.

Santos initially had taken the stand Wednesday. During questioning that day, Deputy Attorney General Basil O’Mallan said that it would be appropriate to advise Santos of his right to remain silent because he might say something that might incriminate himself....

SUVA, Fiji (FijiSUN, July 9) - The University of the South Pacific should increase the number of courses it offers through extension programs to ease overcrowding at its Fiji campus, say Fiji educators.

"The education program at the university is one of the largest," said Fiji Teachers Union general secretary Agni Deo. "For the last couple of years, we noticed that students had to sit on steps, stand on the sides of lecture rooms and sometimes they were even spilling out during a class.

"Students pay a lot of fees and this kind of service is not justified. It is also not in compliance with OHS regulations. The Ministry of Labor needs to send inspectors to verify the issue," he said.

Deo said the problem could also affect students’ classroom performance.

"It can be very hard for a student to concentrate in a very crowded room. Sometimes they are even likely to fail. I think there is an urgent need for an expansion of their infrastructure to meet the...

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.